Suitable varieties for the Urals
It is better to grow winter-hardy varieties that bear fruit in autumn, summer or winter.
- Antonovka. This species is highly resistant to frost. The height of an adult tree reaches 5 m. It is distinguished by a wide crown in the shape of a pyramid. The weight of the apple varies from 100 to 200 g. The skin is yellow with a green tint. The pulp is white, very juicy. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour. The first harvest can be collected in September. But it’s better to pick apples for storage in October. Antonovka can be stored for 2-3 months.
- White filling. It is worth choosing White filling of the Ural selection. The variety is not suitable only for winter storage, since the fruits lose their presentation after 2 weeks. An adult tree grows up to 3 m. The crown is compact in size and oval in shape. The ripe fruit weighs 100 g. It has green skin and a round shape. You can enjoy the harvest in early August, collecting up to 130 kg of apples from 1 tree.
- Aport. This variety is famous for its large fruits - weighing from 300 to 900 g. The harvest ripens in late autumn or early winter. Shelf life is 2-4 months. Ripe apples have a glossy skin with a yellowish or greenish tint. The taste is excellent, there is a wine aftertaste. The advantage of the variety is its resistance to scab.
- Melba. This variety is frost-resistant and mid-early. The tree grows up to 2-3 m, has an oblong crown. The ripe fruit has a light green color and weighs 200 g. The peculiarity of Melba is its tasty and sweet pulp with a caramel aroma. The harvested crop can be stored for no more than 5 months, and it can be harvested in August. About 130-170 kg ripens on 1 tree.
- Arkaim. This variety is columnar. The main advantages are resistance to frost, high yield and early fruiting. Already a year after planting, the tree blooms. An 8-year-old plant bears up to 6-8 buckets of apples. They are all tasty, sweet with pronounced sourness.
- Padding. This variety is ideal for the Urals, as it has high frost resistance. The fruits reach ripeness in August, but they can only be preserved until October.
If you decide to plant Papirovka, then be prepared that the “neighbor” should be a pollinating apple tree (Welsea is possible).The tree has a dense crown of a pyramidal shape, and its height is 4 m. Ripe apples can be recognized by their yellow-green peel and round shape. The fruit weighs 100-120 g. About 200 kg of apples ripen on 1 tree.
- Welsey. This variety belongs to the category of low-growing, and it was bred by specialists from America. The fruits ripen at the end of September. The tree has a pyramidal crown type, the fruits are oval, and their weight is 100 g. The harvest is stored for a long time - until January. The disadvantage of this variety is its low yield and average frost resistance.
Selecting a site for planting
An area on the south side with plenty of sunlight is suitable for planting an apple tree.
But the tree needs to be protected from drafts and cold air masses. It is best to choose a slope to prevent moisture accumulation. If you plant a tree in a lowland, this risks rotting of the root system due to the accumulation of cold air and moisture. An apple tree should be planted on fertile soil, loam or sandy loam with a neutral pH. If there is heavy clay on the site, then it is worth adding sand to it before planting. Acidic soil is neutralized with lime.
During the active growing season, it is worth adding phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium to the soil. It is these substances that will allow you to get a high yield.
When planting an apple tree, choose a place with low groundwater. If tall varieties are selected, then this figure will be 7 m, and for low-growing varieties - 3-4 m.
Diseases and pests
As a protective measure against pests and diseases, the trunk of the apple tree is covered with lime and chalk solution.
The most common disease of apple trees is a fungal infection - scab. The vegetative mass of the tree is attacked: flower buds, fruits, leaves, shoots. In early spring, apple trees begin to be sprayed with copper-containing preparations (1% Bordeaux mixture) and fungicides (Horus, Fitolavin). In the fall, preventive work is carried out, destroying dried fruits, leaves and branches. The crown must be sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate (5%).
Important. The most dangerous insect pest for an apple tree is the codling moth, which damages the fruit. Preventive measures include destroying dry leaves, fallen apples, and digging up the tree trunk. Pest control is carried out with insecticidal preparations: “Atom”, “Dimethoat”, “Iskra M” and others.
The correct choice of variety, proper planting of seedlings and regular care make it possible to obtain an excellent apple harvest even in the difficult climatic conditions of the Urals.
Preparation for transplanting seedlings
It is better to plant several varieties of apple trees in one area. For example, 2 summer, 2 autumn and 6 winter ripening. Next to them there should be pollinating varieties that have different growing seasons, durations of flowering and ripening of apples. The indicator of resistance to frost should also vary.
This approach will allow the trees to withstand severe frosts and at the same time preserve the harvest.
You should choose only local seedlings, as they take root well. In this case, the planting material must be healthy. Seedlings with growths on the trunk, thickening and rot on the roots will not be suitable. The length of the roots is up to 30 cm. Trees 1-2 years old are suitable for planting in the Urals, as they take root better than adult plants.
Apple tree seedling
Only a healthy apple tree seedling takes root well in a new place, develops and grows into a large tree in the future. But how to choose the right seedling for planting? According to the following characteristics:
- Recommended age: from two years. In annuals, the root system is poorly developed;
- The length of the central shoot of two-year-old seedlings is within 1.5 meters;
- Fibrous root system, at least 30 cm long. The color of the roots when cut should be slightly green or white;
- Several shoots should extend from the trunk, at different angles and at different levels;
- The absence of mechanical damage on the branches and trunk indicates good quality of the seedling;
If possible, purchase apple tree seedlings with a closed root system. Apple trees from pots take root well in a new place and grow quickly.
Landing
The procedure for spring planting is as follows:
- Dig a peg into the prepared hole and place planting material. Spread the roots and cover with soil, compacting it well. Make sure that the root collar is about 5 cm above the soil surface.
- Attach the seedling to a peg. Do this carefully so as not to damage the tree bark. Use soft material for garter.
- Water the seedling with warm water (20-30 l).
- Lay a layer of mulch around the tree trunk using peat or humus.
Planting scheme
When carrying out planting work in the spring, it is necessary to avoid close proximity of apple trees on the site. These trees love to grow in space for complete aeration and better light.
The following recommendations will help you avoid mistakes during spring planting:
- the distance between tall varieties should be 5-6 m, and between medium-sized ones - 4 m;
- low-growing trees should be planted at a distance of 2.5-3 m;
- columnar varieties actively develop when maintaining a distance of 0.5 m.
Features in different regions:
In outskirts of Moscow
When planting, examine the seedlings; the buds should not swell on them, and the rhizomes should not begin to grow. This is possible in early spring: in the Moscow region from April 10 to early May . If you are late with planting, the apple tree will begin to hurt.
In central Russia
In central Russia, apple trees need to be planted in mid-spring.
In the Leningrad region
Trees are planted when the air temperature is above 0 and there is no frost. This happens towards the end of April.
How to plant an apple tree in the spring in the Urals and Siberia?
In the Urals and Siberia, nature is unpredictable and very sharp temperature fluctuations are possible. Because of this, it is not recommended to plant trees in the fall, since frosts can occur at any time; they are planted in early spring, when the soil thaws a little. This happens by the beginning of May .
In the south of Russia
The further south the region is, the earlier you can start planting apple trees.
In Ukraine and Belarus
Seedlings are planted at the end of April .
Care
Caring for apple trees in the Urals is not difficult, but following agricultural practices is the key to a high yield.
Watering
High-quality watering is possible only if the following rules are observed:
- Moisten the soil only with warm water. If the liquid is cold, this will lead to deformation of the root system.
- It is recommended to water young trees 2 times a week.
- Mature plants should only be moistened in summer. For 1 tree, 20 liters of warm water will be enough.
- 3 days after watering, loosen the soil in the tree trunk circle. This improves aeration of the root system.
- It is necessary to mulch the soil in the root zone. This will allow moisture to remain in the soil longer.
Fertilizers
The first time you need to feed the apple tree is the next year after planting. Do this in autumn and spring. If the summer in the Urals is hot, then nitrogen fertilizing can be used once a season. Before flowering, the tree needs mineral preparations. Ammonium nitrate is suitable - 4 g of substance per 6 liters of water.
The apple tree needs a second feed in September - 7 days before harvest. It is worth using humus or potassium (4 g of organic matter or 200 g of minerals per tree).
To increase productivity, 7 days before harvesting, it is necessary to water the above-ground part of the apple tree with nutrients. You will need to combine 400 g of a complex preparation (Kemira or Azofoska) with a bucket of water. For 1 plant, 3 liters of solution is enough.
Trimming
Since the planting work was carried out in the spring, the main shoot needs to be removed. But it is forbidden to do this in the fall, otherwise the plant will die due to frost. In the first year of planting, all inflorescences must be removed. Then the apple tree will be able to save energy during winter frosts.
Sanitary pruning is required in the spring. All diseased and damaged branches must be removed. Such events have a positive effect on the development of the young plant. Anti-aging pruning is carried out in the fall every 2-3 years.
When pruning, it is important to shape the crown. Then the apple tree will be beautiful and healthy. Carry out the procedure for the first time 2 years after planting. Most of the shoots must be removed for the active development of branches.
Graft
It needs to be done in the last days of July. First of all, early, and only then mid-early and late varieties are grafted. This budding method is most often used - by the bark.
Procedure:
- Remove all leaves from the cuttings, leaving the petioles.
- Insert the cutting into the T-shaped cut located on the rootstock.
- Wrap the fixation site with film without touching the kidney.
- Treat the cut with garden varnish, which will prevent strong evaporation.
Disease and pest control
Caring for a tree also means protecting it from diseases and pests. The codling moth is considered a common parasite that attacks apple trees growing in the Urals. If it is not destroyed, it will destroy the crop at the stage of ovary formation.
Prevention against codling moths involves destroying dry leaves and digging up the tree trunk. Bordeaux mixture (100 g per 10 liters of water), which is used for monthly spraying, helps fight this pest.
Scab is one of the diseases. A solution of copper sulfate (200 g per 10 liters of water) or tincture of onion peels (500 g per 5 liters of water) helps to cope with it. Trees are treated with them every 14 days.
